site.btaHuman Trafficking for Labour Exploitation Purposes Takes Increasing Share of Total Number of Trafficking Cases, Ivan Kondov Says

As a result of increasing migrant and refugee flows, trafficking for labour exploitation accounts for an increasing share of total trafficking cases, said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov on Thursday at the opening of the international conference Human Trafficking: The Route of Labour Migration – Pitfalls and Opportunities for Third-Country Nationals.

"This crime often goes without consequences, as the victims often do not recognize themselves as victims and do not seek protection and assistance", Kondov said.

He said that recent growing armed conflicts, extreme poverty, climate change and other crises have created favourable conditions for increased human trafficking. "Refugees who have fled their homes because of wars, as well as migrants seeking better socio-economic living conditions, are among the groups most vulnerable to this serious crime", Kondov said. "These challenges require mobilization at all levels, political will and concrete action to ensure a comprehensive and collective response".

He clarified that Bulgaria is among the leading countries in the EU in terms of building a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to prevent crime and protect victims, and reaffirmed Bulgaria's commitment to counter human trafficking.